Reliability and Validity of the Commitment to Physical Activity Scale for Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose.

To examine psychometric properties of a Commitment to Physical Activity Scale for Adolescents (CPASA).

Design.

Two test-retest studies and a prospective study, approved by a university institutional review board, were conducted in midwestern U.S. urban areas.

Setting.

The first test-retest study occurred in four community centers, the second test-retest study took place in a community school, and the prospective study occurred in eight middle schools.

Subjects.

To measure commitment at baseline and 1 week later, 51 girls in the first test-retest study completed an original 26-item scale, and 91 in the second test-retest study completed a revised 11-item scale. In the prospective study, 503 girls completed the 11-item scale.

Measures.

Commitment was measured via the CPASA. After completing the CPASA, girls in the prospective study wore ActiGraph GT3X-plus accelerometers that measured light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity (LMVPA) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Analysis.

Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were estimated. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to cross-validate the factor structure.

Results.

For the 11-item CPASA, Cronbach α ranged from .81 to .82, and test-retest reliability was .88. Both EFA and CFA indicated a single factor. The scale was significantly correlated with LMVPA (r = .10) and MVPA (r = .11).

Conclusion.

The 11-item CPASA demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity with girls.